Tri-nations Champions Set To Test Ruddock's Wales

31 August 2004 16:08

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International rugby is all set to return with a bang at the Millennium Stadium on Saturday, 6 November when Wales kick-off their four match Lloyds TSB Autumn Series against the newly crowned Tri-Nations champions South Africa.

The game could pitch the Springboks' new record points scorer Percy Mongomery against a few of his Newport Gwent Dragons team mates and will give new Welsh coach Mike Ruddock the hardest of tasks for his first home Test.

It will be the first of four internationals on successive weekends at the Millennium Stadium with Wales also playing Romania, New Zealand and Japan in a series that offers Welsh fans the chance to buy into a great new ticketing deal that will enable them to watch Wales play Romania and Japan for as little as Â£8 and Â£4.

In addition to the new ticketing strategy, Wales will also break new ground by playing two of their November games on Friday nights. The four-Test series will kick-off at 2.45pm on Saturday, 6 November when the Springboks return to the Welsh capital and New Zealand will also play Wales on a Saturday afternoon - at 5.30pm on 20 November.

The experiment with "Fans Nights" will come on Friday, 12 November, when Romania come to Wales for the third time in four seasons, and on Friday, 26 November, when Japan attempt to avenge their 1999 Rugby World Cup defeat by Wales in Cardiff.

"You have to go back eight years for the last time a Welsh team had the chance to test itself against two SANZAR nations in an Autumn Series. That means Ruddock's men will get the chance to measure themselves against the best in the world," said WRU Group Chief Executive David Moffett.

"It is vitally important that the Welsh players test themselves against the best in the world and by bringing both the All Blacks and the Springboks to the Millennium Stadium we believe we are giving them the perfect opportunity to improve.

"Mike Ruddock is facing a real baptism by fire at the start of his two year reign as Welsh coach, but he wouldn't have it any other way. He will have five fixtures against teams ranked higher than Wales in the world rankings in his first six months in office."

The Springboks will return to Wales five years and four months on from when they helped open the Millennium Stadium in such memorable style in June, 1999.

On that day Rob Howley's Welsh side notched a first win over the South Africans in 92 years and Ruddock's goal will be to emulate that success and avenge the summer defeat in Pretoria, when the Springboks triumphed 53-18.

"We had an incredibly challenging summer tour, with two Tests in Argentina and one in South Africa, but the players have a fantastic series of matches to look forward to at the Millennium Stadium in November," said Ruddock.

"These four games are key to the future of Welsh rugby. They are the first stepping stone on the road to the 2007 World Cup and, to that extent, each is as important as the other.

"The only way we will improve as a rugby playing nation is if we have regular contact with the top teams in the world and by playing the Pumas twice, the Springboks twice and the All Blacks ahead of the 2005 RBS Six Nations Championship we will have every chance of continuing the development that was so apparent under Steve Hansen."

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Beating Merthyr has boosted Carmarthen Quins hopes of reaching a top eight spot in the Principality Premiership. Quins captain Haydn Pugh is delighted with his team's progress and is determined that everyone from the Under 6s through to the senior team, enjoys the ride.

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Sam Cross and Luke Treharne have been named as co-captains of the Wales Sevens side as head coach Gareth Williams names his 12-man squad to play in the first leg of the HSBC World Series in Dubai next weekend.

Bedwas head coach Steve Law and players Nicky Griffiths and Alun Rees extol the virtues of the close knit club as they prepare to host third place RGC 1404 - who are one place head of them on the Principality Premiership points table - on Saturday.

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The second WRU disability rugby pilot has been delivered, this time in Caerphilly schools, culminating in a festival at the Caerphilly Centre of Sporting Excellence, Ystrad Mynach tomorrow. Plans are in place to set up a Disability Rugby Club in Newbridge to provide long-term playing opportunities.

WRU TV: Hear from inside the Wales camp as Neil Jenkins discusses this weekend's clash with South Africa and how the squad are looking to put in a strong performance to round of the 2016 Under Armour Series